PEORIA — About 30 minutes before a house fire that killed four people in 2010, the man accused of starting the blaze bought a dollar’s worth of gasoline, according to testimony Wednesday.

Edward Casto was the third-shift clerk at the BP Amoco station on Western Avenue near what was then Jumer’s Castle Lodge on April 21, 2010. At the murder trial of Aunterrio Barney, Casto testified that about 4 a.m. that day, he saw Barney at the station with a red plastic gas can. He said Barney bought a lemonade and a dollar’s worth of gas.

About 30 minutes later, the house at 1212 N. University St. was engulfed in flames.

Youlandice Simmons, 24, and her pregnant sister, Brianna Simmons, 22, were killed in the fire along with 19-year-old Darresse Roddy. The son of Youlandice Simmons, 2-year-old Darryl Miller Jr., died the next day at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Barney fled the area and was arrested in June 2010 in Raleigh, N.C., by U.S. marshals.

Police found the gas can the day of the fire in a trash bin just a few houses away. Casto said he saw a picture of Barney in the Journal Star a few days after the fire and immediately called police. He was able to pick Barney out of a photo lineup, he testified.

Barney, 37, of Chicago is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson. He faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted of all charges.

Prosecutors contend Barney took the gas can, doused the only stairway to the upper floor apartment and set it afire, trapping the four people.

“This fire wasn’t an accident. This fire didn’t happen because lightening struck the house or because someone was careless with their cigarettes,” Peoria County assistant state’s attorney Donna Cruz said in her opening statement.

Cruz said Barney set the fire because he was angry at Youlandice Simmons, who had not answered his phone calls earlier in the evening.

“His last words to Youlandice were ‘I’m going to get you,’” Cruz said, referring to a voice mail message left by Barney to Simmons.

Barney’s attorney, Hugh Toner, however, told jurors to pay close attention to the details, because that’s “where the devil is.” He told them flatly that his client didn’t set the fire, and through his questioning of witnesses, seemed to intend to argue that another person did it.

He also hinted to jurors that his client would take the stand to give his version of events later in the trial.

Page 2 of 2 - The trial got off to a quick start as the panel of seven men and five women were picked before lunch Wednesday. Eight witnesses testified before Chief Peoria County Judge Steve Kouri recessed for the day. Both sides believe the case can go to the jury by Friday.

The voice mail messages left by Barney are expected to be heard Thursday. Prosecutors could also go into a statement, apparently given to police by Barney after his arrest.

Andy Kravetz can be reached at 686-3283 or akravetz@pjstar.com. For live courtroom updates, follow him on Twitter @andykravetz.